The Chinese Air Force has reached the milestone of 300 operational J-20 stealth fighters, a number confirmed during the Changchun Air Show in Jilin Province.
The expansion has accelerated since 2024, with at least 50 new aircraft delivered last year. Chinese military researchers identified the 300th unit based on serial records and photographs from the event.
With this, China consolidates one of the largest fifth-generation fighter fleets in the world, surpassing the United States in production pace. While the U.S. operates around 180 F-22 Raptors and slightly more than 500 F-35s, it is expected that by 2027, the Chinese Air Force will exceed the U.S. in a ratio of up to 12 to 1 in modern fighters and 5 to 3 in stealth aircraft. This advantage also extends to naval power and the number of strategic bombers.
In addition to the J-20, China supports its air defense with a broad fleet of previous-generation fighters, aircraft carriers, and thousands of long-range missiles. The local military industry, capable of mass-producing new weaponry without relying on external supply chains, further strengthens China’s strategic advantage.
Experts note that focusing on quantity and domestic production, even with lower sophistication, follows the recent logic of conflicts, where scale and rapid replacement can determine the outcome of wars.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @RealAirPower1 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
The 300th J-20, Sr. No. 63106, has entered Chinese service 🙌 The stealth fighter was recently spotted arriving at the Changchun Air Show 2025, highlighting Beijing’s expanding 5th-gen fleet. pic.twitter.com/Nit70Bubij
— Air Power (@RealAirPower1) September 14, 2025
